Jennifer Pocai

Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in project, program, and grant management in an educational setting. Prior to entering the realm of higher education policy and research, she was a practitioner at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) for close to seven years. While at NVCC, Jennifer managed programs and initiatives that supported students facing barriers to postsecondary access and success with a specific focus on adult learners and parenting students. During this time, Jennifer also became a volunteer mentor with Generation Hope, a nonprofit in the Washington DC metro area that supports teen parents on their journey to and through higher education.

Jennifer returned to college as an adult and parent to complete her bachelor’s degree in Higher Education Administration in 2015 and master’s degree in Higher Education in 2019, both from George Mason University (GMU). Her graduate practicum was spent supporting GMU’s Student Parent Working Group in data gathering and analysis and strategic planning. After completion of her master’s degree, Jennifer began working as a Research Analyst for the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) and was then promoted to Research and Programs Manager. While at IHEP, Jennifer provided program management for Degrees When Due, a three-year national completion initiative designed to help institutions, systems, and states increase degree attainment among individuals with some college credit, but no degree.